Tue 18 Aug 2020
Please find below the latest information we have. Please note this an ever changing situation and we will update you as guidance is received from our exam boards and the government.
18th August 2020
Dear Year 11 Student and your parents/carers
I hope that this letter finds you well. Following the text message I sent this morning, I would like to share with you information about changes announced on 17th August relating to the awarding of GCSE grades. This information is based on published information from Ofqual which will be kept under review and may be subject to change.
Announcement regarding GCSE results on 20th August
Ofqual announced a major change of position regarding GCSE results that are due to be published on Thursday 20th August. Students will be awarded the centre assessment grades submitted to the exam boards instead of the government calculated grade based on the algorithm. However, if the government calculated grade is higher than the centre assessed grade, the higher of the two will be awarded.
Determining Centre Assessment Grades
Teachers and leaders at Airedale Academy worked hard to develop centre assessment grades (CAGs) that we felt were fair and which reflected the most likely grade students would receive this summer had students been able to sit the exams. There is no single indicator that determined the CAGs that were awarded. In line with Ofqual guidance, teachers balanced a range of different considerations including assessment results, mock exams, classwork, coursework and historical results for the course within the Academy. Teachers have used their best professional judgement in producing centre assessment grades. These grades were then moderated in turn by curricular teams and heads of department. To further support robust quality assurance, the results were further reviewed by the Senior Leadership Team, the Principal and the Trust CEO, who confirmed their validation. This was done to ensure that grades are fair, credible and realistic.
Autumn Exam Series
It is worth considering that sitting exams could be an option for disappointed students, given that all candidates will have been equally disadvantaged by the extended gap in learning. These rescheduled written exams will take place between the 2nd and 23rd November 2020 and results are expected in January 2021. We advise any student considering sitting the exam in the autumn term to speak with a member of the Senior Leadership team. Instructions on how to make an appointment will be included with results on Thursday. The deadline for students to request entry to this examination series is 7th September 2020.
Careers Support
The National Careers Service will be running the Exam Results Helpline until Friday 28th August. The helpline is available to young people and their parents/carers to help them with advice on their next steps. You can contact the helpline on 0800 100 900 number which will be open daily from 8am to 10pm. Beyond 28th August, you will be able to access ongoing support from the National Careers Service by calling 0800 100 900, visiting http://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/contact-us or searching for the National Careers Service online. Jo Sergeant, our careers advisor, will also be available for advice and support: jsergeant@airedaleacademy.com
We will continue to update you over the next few days as government announcements continue. Thank you again for your support and for your patience as we work together during this unprecedented time.
Yours faithfully
Miss L Proctor
Principal
